The issue of euthanasia and the modern problem
K. MASTORAKIS*, STAVROS BALOYIANNIS**
*Postgraduate student in the theology in the field of ethics, AUTH
**Professor of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Thessaloniki

The issue of the euthanasia it does not consist a new problem for the humanity. The problem may have become more complicated, may become report in the autonomy of the patient, although, the point of view is negative, as it was happening in the ancient times. While a couple of centuries ago, the term of "euthanasia" didn't exist, we need to reach in the third century, where we detect it for the first time in the comedy writer Poseidippus, when he reports specifically "every person wants the luck from the Gods, but in no case the euthanasia". There's also a case of Diagoras of Rodhes, where watching his sons as Olympic winners and not enduring the pleasure, after that, he said, that it was the best time for him to die. Since then there were other terms that they were referred to the "good death", although, the point of view hasn't been always positive against the removal of life and particularly when something like that is reported specifically and positively from the Hypocrate's oath (I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art) and also from the religions that they consider the life, as a God's gift. Furthermore, euthanasia has a number of types and for this reason it is extremely difficult to express an opinion either from someone who has an agreement or from one who has a disagreement. We have the voluntary active euthanasia when the patient seeks to cause the death of either the doctor or by another person, and the non-voluntary euthanasia, when a other person decides for the patient. In addition, there is the passive euthanasia, where, in this case we act with an 'omission'. This does not apply to the use of drugs but to the mechanical support, which in some time the doctor withdraws. A different type of euthanasia is called assisted suicide. According to that form, the doctor gives drugs to help the patient even, if he knows that the patient will use the drugs to accelerate the death. Another type is the indirect active euthanasia or "law of double effect". The principle of double effect is used to justify the use of medication to relief the pain, even if it can lead to unintentionally causing the death of an acceleration in respiratory depression. Unfortunately, there is and the eugenics euthanasia, which has to do with children who are born or going to be born handicapped. At any case, as we told before, it is not easy to give an answer for an issue like this, in which the medicine, the religions, the philosophy and, of course the law, are involved with aim to give a solution. However, we hope every act of the doctor to be for the patient's behalf. Encephalos 2010, 47(3):144-149.

Key words: Euthanasia, religions, brain death and transplantations.